Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-04

| thousand rare and beautiful wild
| flowers.
The negro hoy, who met us at the lot
gate, took charge of the horse and
buggy and l. followed Preston to the
mouse, which was beautiful Queen
Ann cottage of seven or eight rooms.
| AS we entered the gate which led to the
house bright golden-haired boy of six
years came from behind the house as
fast rs his little legs could carry him.
and shouting at the top of his voice,
"Yonder's papa. yonder's papa" which
Immediately brought beautiful little
lassie Of four years from the house, who
came very near falling off the veranda
first.
"They have race like this every
time come home," said Preston, as he
stopped and took the boy on his back
and the girl in his arms.
"Pres, you are to be congratulated
OH having two as pretty children as /
ever saw" said, as l shook each of
them by the hand.
eff they only grow up to be as good
as they are pretty L will be satisfied
with them," said Harry, as he playfully
shook the little girl who was pulling
his mustache.
When we entered the house and I
saw Harry's wife, and noted her beauty,
and amiability, and affection for her
husband and children, there was some
thing like twinge OF envy entered my
breast; for 1 am an old bachelor, and
never before had I fully appreciated
the happiness of welded life as enjoyed
by two such trusting and loving hearts.
That night after supper as we sat on
the porch enjoying our cigars and the
cool breeze from the gulf, said:
"Now Pres. for the story about the
magi who put you in possession OF such
pretty and interesting wife and chill
dren, and such cozy, comfortable
home"
well" he commenced, "the last let
ter you received from me 1 was with
Cooper and Baily, wasn't 2"
eyes," I said.
"Well, 1 quit them after one season,
and followed the fairs. I had pretty
good success, for you see balloon is a
drawing card to country fairs and the
managers didn't mind paying me fancy
prices. Well, seven years ago last fall
came to Jacksonville to make as
tensions during the fair. 1 was in a
pretty bad fix financially, having just
recovered from three months spell of
fever in Mobile, which nearly left me
broke. Well, 1 was to make six as
tensions for $500. I got to Jackson
vile on Saturday, and I made my first
ascension on Monday; it was also my
last. had not fully recovered my
strength, and I should not have at
tempted high ascension; but never
thought Of that, and inflated my old
balloon until she was as tight as
drum. She shot upward like rocket,
and o strong wind caught her and sent
her southwark in a hurry. She began
to descend in about a mile and u halt
from town, and I thought sure she
would come down right in thick
wood, but she missed that and came
down in tree in the backyard
of farm house. Well, when
got in fifty feet Of the tree
top 1 quickly unlocked the life lines
from my waist and prepared to catch q
limb. You know never use life lines,
but l was so weak I could hardly set
on the bar that day and 1 thought it
best to use them. Well 1 succeeded
i'll catching hold of limb, but was SO
weak and exhausted that / could not
retain my grasp, SO went tumbline
down through the tree like squirrel
that had been shot. I fell heavily on
my left side and broke my left leg just
above the ankle. A gentleman who
was standing in the rear door of his
house saw me coming down, and was
at my side the moment I struck the
ground. Finding that my leg was
broken, he ran to the house and rang
the farm bell, which soon brought some
hired men from field, who carried me
into the house and deposited me on the
bed, after which one of them mounted
horse and started in hot haste after
a physician. The gentleman who had
first come to my assistance, and to
whom the farm belonged, said to me:
"My friend, you have met with
a pretty serious accident, and
I am truly sorry for you.
The wagon which followed you from
town to carry you and your balloon
back, is at the gate; but you need
not go unless you wish, for you are
more than welcome to remain here
until you recover"
/ thanked him as we'll as my suffering
would allow, and informed him that
certainly preferred remaining where ]
was, if it would not be too great an in